Entertainment device

ABSTRACT

An entertainment device including a housing coupled to a frame is disclosed. The frame includes end stanchions, stylized as a character and including at least one of a head portion and a torso portion, that are adapted to connect to the housing. The device further includes one or more interactive features such as hanging elements. The frame is configured to support the housing above a supporting surface such that an infant may be placed on the supporting surface, between the end stanchions and below the housing. With this configuration, the infant is capable of interacting with the hanging elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an entertainment device including ahousing supported by a frame stylized as a character and, in particular,to an infant gym including an activity bar and a support frame stylizedas a character, wherein an infant may be positioned within the frame andbelow the activity bar. The activity bar may further include interactivetoys such as hanging elements suspended from the bar.

BACKGROUND

Infants develop by interacting with their surrounding environment.Sensory stimuli are an infant's first sources of learning (infants learnthrough audio and visual stimulation related to different fields ofexperience). For example, seeing bright colors, bold patterns, andmoving elements fosters development of visual tracking skills. Listeningto music and sounds stimulates auditory skills, while touching materialsof varying texture enhances tactile skills. Each of these activities,moreover, encourages an infant to use and develop its cognitive skillsto differentiate among various sights, sounds, and textures.Consequently, toys are often developed to create varied interactive,sensory experiences for an infant. For example, infant gyms enhance bothvisual and auditory skills through stimulation by providing an infant anopportunity to use her senses while interacting with the gym. Infantgyms provide neurological stimulation, as well as develop an infant'smotor and cognitive skills. Specifically, an infant gym with enhancedvisual appeal, different textures, and busy activities stimulates theinfant's senses, and thus her sensory development. Furthermore, infantgyms encourage an infant to kick, reach, and bat at hanging toys,developing motor skills. In addition, the infant's ability to repeatedlymake things happen helps an infant understand cause and effect.Increasing interaction with an infant gym is desirable because itincreases the infant's potential for learning. The more visuallyappealing a toy is to the child, the more the child is likely toidentify that toy as a source of entertainment. Thus, it would bedesirable to provide a more visually appealing toy including interactivefeatures configured to encourage a child to use her senses. Inparticular, it is desirable to provide an entertainment device or toyincluding activities with which a child can interact to developcognitive and/or motor skills.

The present invention is directed generally to an entertainment deviceor toy including a housing coupled to a frame having end stanchionsstylized as a character or figure. The entertainment device furtherincludes one or more interactive features such as hanging elements. Theframe is configured to support the housing above a surface and to permitan infant to be placed on the surface and within the frame. As a result,the infant is capable of contacting the interactive features of theentertainment device.

SUMMARY

Generally, the embodiments of the present invention provide anentertainment device (e.g., an infant gym) including a housing supportedby a frame stylized as a character and, in particular, to an infant gymincluding an activity bar and a support frame stylized as a character,wherein an infant may be positioned within the frame and below theactivity bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an entertainment deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention including a supportframe connected to a housing.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the entertainment deviceof FIG. 1, showing an end stanchion stylized as a character.

FIG. 3A illustrates an isolated view in elevation of a support frame endstanchion of the entertainment device of FIG. 1, showing the exterior ofthe end stanchion in greater detail.

FIG. 3B illustrates an isolated view in elevation of a support frame endstanchion of the entertainment device of FIG. 1, showing the interior ofthe end stanchion in greater detail.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up perspective view of the end stanchion ofFIG. 3B, showing a connection mechanism for receiving the housing of thedevice, the connection mechanism being located on the head portion ofthe end stanchion.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of the end stanchion of FIG.3B, showing a close-up of the connection mechanism.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isolated perspective view of the housing of theentertainment device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up view of a terminal end of the housing ofFIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A and 8C illustrate close-up views of the entertainment device ofFIG. 1, showing the mating relationship between a terminal end of thehousing and the connection mechanism located on the end stanchions ofthe support frame.

FIG. 8B illustrates a front perspective view of the device of FIG. 1,showing the connecting relationship between the housing and the supportframe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an isolated view in elevation of one of the hangingelements of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates a close-up view of an attachment point on thehousing of FIG. 6, showing the connection of a hanging element to theattachment point.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elementsthroughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention, an entertainment deviceincluding a support portion and a housing coupled to the support portionis disclosed. The support portion elevates the housing over a surfacesuch that, when an infant is placed on the surface, the infant mayinteract with interactive elements disposed on the housing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an entertainment deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodimentshown, the entertainment device 10 includes a support section 100, ahousing 200, and interactive toys or hanging elements 400 suspended fromthe housing 200. The support section 100 may include a structureconfigured to position the housing 200 above a surface and enable aninfant to interact with the hanging elements 400. As shown in theembodiment of FIG. 1, the support section 100 comprises a frameincluding at least one support portion or end stanchion. Preferably, thesupport section 100 includes a first end stanchion 110A and a second endstanchion 110B extending upward from a supporting surface. The endstanchions 110A, 110B may be positioned at the terminal ends of thehousing 200. The support section 100, however, is not limited to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. With this configuration, an infant maybe placed on the supporting surface, between the end stanchions 110A,110B and underneath the housing 200.

The end stanchions 110A, 110B include a structure operable to stablysupport the housing 200 above a supporting surface. Referring to FIG. 2,which illustrates a side perspective view of the entertainment device 10of FIG. 1, the end stanchions 110A, 110B may include an exterior surface120 (i.e., a surface facing away from the housing 200) and an interiorsurface 130 (i.e., a surface facing toward the housing 200). FIGS. 3Aand 3B provide isolated views of the exterior 120 and interior 130surfaces, respectively, of end stanchions 110A, 110B according to anembodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the end stanchions110A, 110B may comprise a generally planar structure including a raisedborder or lip 335 extending transversely about the periphery of the endstanchion 110A, 110B.

The end stanchion 110A is preferably stylized as a character. Stylizingthe end stanchion 110A or 110B as a character increases the educationalvalue of the entertainment device 10 because, as explained above, themore visually appealing the entertainment device 10 is to a child, themore the child is likely to identify the entertainment device 10 as asource of entertainment. This, in turn, increases the potential forlearning, since an infant will want to increase her interaction with theentertainment device 10. The choice of character stylization is notlimited, and includes domestic animals (e.g., a cat or a dog), wildanimals (e.g., a giraffe or elephant), comic book characters, cartooncharacters, and humanoid figures. By way of example, and as shown inFIG. 3A, the end stanchions 110A, 110B may comprise an animal such as anelephant.

The end stanchion 110A, 110B may comprise a lower or leg portion 305, amiddle or torso portion 315, and an upper or head portion 325. The legportion 305 of the end stanchion 110A, 110B is configured to contact asupporting surface such as a floor or table. In the embodiment of FIGS.3A and 3B, the leg portion 305 includes a forward leg 305B and a rearleg 305A (i.e., the front and back legs of the elephant) that contactthe supporting surface. The torso portion 315 connects the leg portions305A, 305B with the head portion 325. The torso portion 315 may includeone or more apertures or portals 345 to facilitate the unobscuredviewing of an infant therethrough. The apertures 345 may furtherfunction as an attachment point for interactive features such as hangingelements 400 (shown in FIG. 1), and may include a raised border or lip355 extending about the periphery of the aperture 345 to create a ledgethat assists in the attachment of an hanging element 400 (as discussedbelow).

The head portion 325 includes a structure configured to removably securea portion of the housing 200 to the end stanchion 110A, 110B. Referringto FIG. 3B, the head portion 325 includes a connection member 365disposed on the interior surface 130 of end stanchions 110A, 110B. Theconnection member 365 may be positioned along the upper part of the headportion 325 proximate its center. FIG. 4 is a close-up view of theconnection member 365 shown in FIG. 3B. The connection member 365 maycomprise a casing 370 including a recess or channel 375 extendinglongitudinally from an opening 380 positioned along the top of thecasing 370 to a position proximate the bottom of the casing 370. Thechannel 375 is configured to receive a tab or rib extending from aterminal end of the housing 200 (discussed in greater detail below). Apair of guide posts 385 may extend upward from the upper surface of thecasing 370, positioned proximate the sides of the channel 375 to furtherdefine the opening 380. The guide posts 385 may be configured to directa terminal end of the housing 200 into the channel 375.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the end stanchion of FIG. 3B,showing the top portion of the connection member 365. As shown, the lip335 of the end stanchions 110A, 110B may include a cut-away portion thatexposes the top of the connection member 365. The casing 370 may bespaced from the interior surface 130 of the end stanchion 110A, 110B todefine a gap 395. The gap 395 is sized and configured to slidablyreceive an outermost edge of a terminal end of the housing 200(discussed in greater detail below). The gap 395 may run axially alongthe length of the casing 370.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a housing 200 according to an embodimentof the invention. The housing 200 includes a structure configured tosupport an interactive feature. As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 200 maycomprise an activity bar configured to receive and suspend hangingelements 400. The housing 200 is not limited to the illustratedconfiguration, and may include various shapes and sizes, includingstylizations as an animal or humanoid figure. In other embodiments, thehousing 200 may contain electronic sensory stimulating devices suchmicroprocessors, animation devices, lights, sound producing devices,etc.

The housing 200 may include a central portion 205 terminating in a firstend 210A and a second end 210B. The size and shape of the centralportion 205 is not limited to that which is illustrated. The centralportion 205 may include a handle 215 to permit a user to manipulate andcarry the entertainment device 10. The central portion 205 may alsoinclude at least one attachment point 220 for the at least one hangingelement 400. By way of example, the housing 200 may include a recessedportion sized and configured to receive a generally C-shaped clasp thatsupports a hanging element 400 (discussed in greater detail below).

The ends 210A, 210B of the housing 200 include a structure configured toengage the connection member 365 of the end stanchions 110A, 110B (seeFIG. 4) and to secure the housing 200 to the end stanchions 110A, 110B.FIG. 7 is close-up, perspective view of the first terminal end 210A ofhousing 200. Each of the terminal ends 210A, 210B may include agenerally T-shaped configuration comprising an outermost edge 230 with atab or rib 240 extending perpendicularly from the proximate center ofthe edge 230. With this configuration, the terminal ends 210A, 210B ofthe housing 200 are capable of mating with the connection member 365 ofthe end stanchions 110A, 110B of the support section 100. The terminalend configuration of the housing 200 is not limited to that shown inFIG. 7, and may include other configurations operable to secure thehousing 200 to the support section 100.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate the connection of the housing 200 to thesupport section 100 and, in particular, the relationship between theterminal ends 210A, 210B of the housing 200 and the end stanchions 110A,110B. The outermost edge 230 of the housing terminal end 210A, 210B maybe configured to slide into the gap 395 of the connection member 365.Similarly, the rib 240 may be configured to slide into and along thechannel 375 of the connection member 365. In operation, and as shown inFIG. 8A, a terminal end 210A is positioned such that the edge 230 alignswith the gap 395 and the rib 240 aligns with the channel 375. The guideposts 385 help to guide the terminal end 210A axially into the channel375 of the connection member 365. Referring now to FIG. 8B, once eachterminal end 210A, 210B of housing 200 is aligned with a correspondingopening 380 of an end stanchion 110A, 110B, a downward force F isapplied to the housing 200, urging the terminal ends 210A, 210B alongthe channel 375 and into the gap 395. The terminal ends 210A, 210Btravel along the channel 375 (shown in FIG. 8C), and may be inserteduntil the ends 210A, 210B extend completely into the channel 375 (asshown in shown in FIG. 1).

To separate the housing 200 from the support section 100, a reverse(upward) force is applied to pull the terminal ends 210A, 210B along thechannel 375 and axially remove the ends 210A, 210B from the connectionmembers 365. With this configuration, the housing 200 can be separatedfrom and attached to the support section 100 whenever desired. Inaddition, the resulting structure created enables an infant to bepositioned on a supporting surface between the end stanchions 110A, 110Band beneath the housing 200. Such a configuration permits an infant tointeract with hanging elements 400 by, e.g., contacting the elements400.

FIG. 9 shows a side view in elevation of a hanging element 400 accordingto an embodiment of the invention. The hanging element 400 may comprisean entertainment feature adapted to attach to the housing 200. By way ofexample, the hanging element 400 may include a character 410 comprisinga head portion, a torso portion, and/or a leg portion. By way of furtherexample, the character may be stylized as character such as domesticanimals (e.g., a cat or a dog), wild animals (e.g., a giraffe), comicbook characters, cartoon characters, and humanoid figures. The hangingelement 400 may further include various colors, may be made of anysuitable material (including teethable material), and may includematerials having varying textures. The hanging elements 400 may furtherinclude noisemakers such as squeakers and rattles, as well as otherentertainment features including, but not limited to, spinning portions,mirrors, lights, etc. The hanging element 400 may be stylized as acharacter the same or different from that of the end stanchions 110A,110B.

The hanging element 400 may further include an attachment member 420configured to engage the housing 200 and/or the support section 100.Preferably, the attachment member 420 may comprise a flexible clasp thatcan be manipulated so as to attach the hanging element 400 to (or removefrom) the housing 200 and/or the support section 100. The attachmentmember 420 may be permanently attached to the character 410, or may bemade detachable, e.g., by means of a fabric loop. By way of specificexample, the attachment member 420 may comprise an annular clasp with aninterruption along the clasp (i.e., the clasp has a generally C-shapedstructure). A commercially available attachment member 420 suitable forattaching the hanging elements 400 to the entertainment device 10 issold under the trade name of Link-a-Doos™ Links, produced byFisher-Price, Inc. (East Aurora, N.Y.).

As discussed above, the housing 200 also includes at least oneattachment point 220 for the hanging element 400. FIG. 10 illustrates aclose-up view of an attachment point 220 of the housing 200 according toan embodiment of the invention. As shown, the attachment point 220includes a recess configured to receive the ends of the flexibleattachment member 420.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, it is to beunderstood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”,“height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”,“inner”, “outer”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describepoints of reference and do not limit the present invention to anyparticular orientation or configuration. The support section 100, thehousing 200, and the interactive elements 400 can be of any shape andsize, including cartoon characters, humanoid figures, vehicles (cars,space ships), animals, and geometric shapes. The support section 100,the housing 200, and the interactive features 400 may be stylized as thesame or different characters. The housing 200 may include an activitybar with toys suspended therefrom, or may include a sensory outputgenerating devices such as speakers, lights, etc. The housing 200 may ormay not be configured to detach from the support section 100. The numberof end stanchions or support portions 110A, 110B forming the supportsection 100 is not limited. The number of attachment points 220 on thehousing 200 is not limited. Similarly, the number of interactiveelements 400 attachable to the housing 200 is not limited. Thus, it isintended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention that come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

1. An infant gym comprising: a housing supporting at least one hangingentertainment element; and a support frame including a support memberstylized as a first character including a head portion coupled to thehousing and a leg portion configured to engage a supporting surface,said support frame positioning said housing above the supporting surfaceto enable an infant to be positioned on said supporting surface andbeneath said housing so that the infant is capable of interacting withthe hanging entertainment element.
 2. The infant gym of claim 1, whereinsaid first character is an animal.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The infant gym ofclaim 1, wherein said support member includes a recess operable toreceive a portion of said housing to removably connect said housing tosaid support member.
 5. The infant gym of claim 1, wherein said firstcharacter is a humanoid figure.
 6. The infant gym of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one hanging entertainment element is stylized as a secondcharacter having at least one of a head portion and a torso portion. 7.The infant gym of claim 6, wherein said second character is an animal.8. The infant gym of claim 6, wherein said second character is ahumanoid figure.
 9. The infant gym of claim 2, wherein said firstcharacter is an elephant.
 10. The infant gym of claim 2, wherein saidfirst character is a giraffe.
 11. The infant gym of claim 1, whereinsaid support frame includes: a first support member stylized as a firstcharacter having a head portion coupled to the housing and a leg portionconfigured to engage a supporting surface; and a second support memberstylized as the first character having a head portion coupled to thehousing and a leg portion configured to engage the supporting surface,wherein both support members extend upward from said supporting surface.12. The infant gym of claim 11, wherein said housing includes a firstterminal end connected to said first support member and a secondterminal end connected to said second support member, and wherein saidfirst support member, said second support member, and said housing areoperably arranged to enable an infant to be positioned on saidsupporting surface between said first support member and said secondsupport member.
 13. An entertainment device comprising: an activity barincluding at least one hanging entertainment element suspendedtherefrom; and a support frame configured to position said activity barabove a supporting surface including a support member stylized as afirst character including a head portion, a torso portion, and a legportion configured to engage said supporting surface, wherein saidentertainment device is operably arranged to enable an infant to bepositioned on said supporting surface proximate said activity bar and tointeract with said at least one hanging element.
 14. The entertainmentdevice of claim 13, wherein said first character is an animal.
 15. Theentertainment device of claim 13, wherein said first character is ahumanoid figure.
 16. The entertainment device of claim 13, wherein saidat least one hanging entertainment element is stylized as secondcharacter having at least one of a head portion, a torso portion, and aleg portion.
 17. The entertainment device of claim 16, wherein saidsecond character is a humanoid figure.
 18. The entertainment device ofclaim 13, wherein said first character is an elephant.
 19. Theentertainment device of claim 14, wherein said first character is agiraffe.
 20. The entertainment device of claim 13, wherein said supportframe includes a first support member and a second support member, bothsupport members extending upward from said supporting surface.
 21. Theentertainment device of claim 20, wherein said activity bar includes afirst end connected to said first support member, and a second endconnected to said second support member; wherein said first supportmember, said second support member, and said activity bar are operablyarranged to enable an infant to be positioned on said supporting surfacebetween said first support member and said second support member, andproximate said activity bar.
 22. The entertainment device of claim 13,wherein said activity bar is detachable from said support frame.
 23. Theentertainment device of claim 13, wherein said activity bar is connectedto said support frame proximate said head portion.
 24. The entertainmentdevice of claim 13, wherein said leg portion is positioned proximatesaid supporting surface.